The cap-translation inhibitor 4EGI-1 induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma through Noxa induction

Background:

Cancer cells are frequently addicted to deregulated oncogenic protein translation. The small molecule 4EG-I selectively inhibits the cap-dependent translation of mRNAs. As multiple myeloma is an incurable disease that requires new therapeutic approaches, we investigated whether targeting the translation initiation pathway could be a target for myeloma therapy.

Methods:

Six myeloma cell lines and primary samples were included in this study. The 4EGI-1 effect was determined by AnnexinV staining and caspase activation. Modification of Bcl-2 protein expression was analysed, and the significance of modified proteins was analysed by knock-down experiments.

Results:

We demonstrated that 4EGI-1 impaired the assembly of the eIF4F complex and decreased the expression of the eIF4E-regulated proteins in myeloma cells. Furthermore, we showed that 4EGI-1 induced strong apoptosis in five out of six myeloma cell lines. Apoptosis is associated with the activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. The 4EGI-1 triggered Noxa induction only in cells undergoing apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, Noxa silencing prevented myeloma cells from 4EGI-1-induced apoptosis. Finally, Noxa induction led to a disruption of Mcl-1/Bim complexes in parallel to the generation of ‘Mcl-1-free Noxa''.

Conclusion:

Our results suggested that the use of inhibitors that directly target the translation initiation complex eIF4F could represent a potential novel approach for multiple myeloma therapy.     

β - catenin 参与肿瘤干细胞形成和增殖转移的研究进展

Catenin是一类具有相似结构的胞浆内糖蛋白家族,根据分子量不同分为a、B、y1及p120ctn四个亚型,最初是因其与跨膜黏附分子E—cad的胞质段连接而被发现和命名。B-catenin（B-连环素）是一种由位于染色体3p21—22的CTNNBl基因编码的具有介导细胞间黏附及信号转导等多重功能的重要分子,其通过与多种蛋白质结合调控细胞的增殖和分化,在胚胎发育和肿瘤发生中发挥关键作用。近年来干细胞是肿瘤研究领域的热点问题,作为Wnt信号转导通路枢纽分子B-catenin的异常表达与肿瘤的发生、发展有关,因此B—catenin在肿瘤干细胞中的作用也引起科研人员的密切关注。     

FOXA1 expression affects the proliferation activity of luminal breast cancer stem cell populations

The expression of estrogen receptor is the key in most breast cancers (BC) and binding of estrogen receptor to the genome correlates to Forkhead protein (FOXA1) expression. We herein assessed the correlation between the cancer stem cell (CSC) population and FOXA1 expression in luminal BC. We established luminal BC cells derived from metastatic pleural effusion and analyzed the potency of CSC and related factors with established luminal BC cell lines. We also confirmed that mammosphere cultures have an increased aldehyde dehydrogenase‐positive population, which is one of the CSC markers, compared with adherent culture cells. Using a quantitative PCR analysis, we found that mammosphere forming cells showed a higher expression of FOXA1 and stemness‐related genes compared with adherent culture cells. Furthermore, the growth activity and colony‐forming activity of 4‐hydroxytamoxifen‐treated BC cells were inhibited in a mammosphere assay. Interestingly, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen‐resistant cells had significantly increased FOXA1 gene expression levels. Finally, we established short hairpin RNA of FOXA1 (shFOXA1) MCF‐7 cells and investigated the relationship between self‐renewal potential and FOXA1 expression. As a result, we found no significant difference in the number of mammospheres but decreased colony formation in shFOXA1 MCF‐7 cells compared with control. These results suggest that the expression of FOXA1 appears to be involved in the proliferation of immature BC cells rather than the induction of stemness‐related genes and self‐renewal potency of CSCs.     

CD4+CD25+调节性T 细胞对乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化和ALDH1+干样细胞的影响*

目的:研究CD4+CD25+调节性T 细胞（regulatory T cells ,Tregs）对乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition ,EMT ）、细胞迁移侵袭能力,及ALDH1+干样细胞比例的影响。方法:采用免疫磁珠法分离乳腺癌患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Tregs,CD4+CD25+Tregs与乳腺癌BT474、MCF-7 细胞系共培养（共培养组）,BT474、MCF-7 单独培养（对照组）。 检测共培养组和对照组乳腺癌细胞EMT 相关标志物表达的变化,及细胞迁移和侵袭能力的变化。此外,检测BT474 细胞中ALDH1+干样细胞、微球形成能力和自我更新能力的变化。结果:CD4+CD25+Tregs诱导BT474 和MCF-7 细胞间质性标志物表达增高,诱导MCF-7 细胞上皮性标志物E-cadherin 表达降低。CD4+CD25+Tregs诱导BT474 和MCF-7 细胞迁移和侵袭能力上调。共培养组BT474 细胞中ALDH1+干样细胞比例、微球体形成能力、自我更新能力较对照组增强。结论:CD4+CD25+Tregs可诱导乳腺癌细胞发生EMT ,增强细胞体外迁移和侵袭能力,同时促进ALDH1+干样细胞增加。      

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E variants alter the morphology, proliferation, and colony-formation properties of MDA-MB-435 cancer cells

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binds to the 5' m(7)G cap of mRNAs and is a focal point of regulation of initiation of mRNA translation. High levels of expression of eIF4E in many epithelial cancers, including breast, head and neck, colon, and bladder, correlate with increased tissue invasion and metastasis. To further examine the role of eIF4E in the biology of cancer cells, variants of eIF4E with impaired 5' cap binding function were expressed in MDA-MB-435 carcinoma cells. Cell lines overexpressing variants of eIF4E had impaired growth properties and exhibited a different morphology compared to cells expressing similar amounts of exogenous wild-type eIF4E or control cells. Cells expressing variant eIF4E did not form foci in culture and produced smaller colonies in soft agar compared to cells expressing wild-type eIF4E. In addition, analysis of polyribosomes for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA demonstrated a shift from translationally active to inactive fractions in variant eIF4E cells, while GAPDH mRNA did not. The long G-C rich 5' untranslated region of VEGF mRNA is a feature of other mRNAs encoding growth regulating proteins that are predicted to have their translation enhanced by increases in eIF4E; whereas mRNA with shorter and less structured 5' UTRs, like that of GAPDH, are predicted to be largely unaffected. These data suggest that targeting the 5' cap-binding domain of eIF4E may be a viable option to slow cancer cell growth and alter the malignant phenotype.     

Elevated expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E is associated with proliferation, invasion and acquired resistance to erlotinib in lung cancer

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is the rate-limiting factor for cap-dependent translation initiation, which is known to regulate oncogenesis. Elevated eIF4E and its negative impact on prognosis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been reported previously. However, its potential as a therapeutic target and role in regulation of sensitivity to EGFR inhibitors is an area of ongoing investigations. In this study, we detected increased levels of eIF4E in 16 human NSCLC cell lines compared with their normal bronchial epithelial cells. Consistently, human tissue array analysis showed that eIF4E expression was significantly higher in human NSCLC tissues than normal tissues. Inhibition of eIF4E using eIF4E siRNA inhibited the growth and invasion of NSCLC cells. These data suggest that eIF4E overexpression plays a crucial role in positive regulation of the growth and invasion of NSCLC cells. By proteomics, we found that eIF4E levels were elevated in erlotinib-resistant cell lines compared with the sensitive parental cell line. In agreement, assembly of the eIF4F cap complex and several oncogenic proteins regulated by the cap-dependent translation mechanism, were also increased in erlotinib-resistant cells. Thus, erlotinib-resistant cells exhibit elevated eIF4E expression and cap-dependent translation. Inhibition of eIF4F with different means (e.g., gene knockdown) downregulated c-Met expression and partially restored cell sensitivity to erlotinib, suggesting that elevated eIF4E contributes to development of erlotinib resistance, likely through positive regulation of c-Met expression. Taken together, we suggest that elevated eIF4E in NSCLC cells is associated with proliferation, invasion and acquired erlotinib resistance.     

MicroRNA与乳腺癌干细胞

乳腺癌干细胞是导致乳腺癌复发、转移和耐药的根源之一。microRNA(miRNAs)是一类小分子非编码RNA,可与靶mRNA的3’UTR区域结合而导致该mRNA分子的翻译受到抑制,参与多种生物功能的调节。最近研究发现,miRNAs参与乳腺癌干细胞的分化、自我更新等生物学特性的调控。MiRNAs可以作为乳腺癌干细胞研究的一个新的切入点。本文就近年来该方面的研究进展做简要综述。     

Activated 4E-BP1 represses tumourigenesis and IGF-I-mediated activation of the eIF4F complex in mesothelioma

Background:

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I signalling stimulates proliferation, survival, and invasion in malignant mesothelioma and other tumour types. Studies have found that tumourigenesis is linked to dysregulation of cap-dependent protein translation.

Methods:

The effect of IGF stimulation on cap-mediated translation activation in mesothelioma cell lines was studied using binding assays to a synthetic 7-methyl GTP-cap analogue. In addition, cap-mediated translation was genetically repressed in these cells with a dominant active motive of 4E-BP1.

Results:

In most mesothelioma cell lines, IGF-I stimulation resulted in a hyperphosphorylation-mediated inactivation of 4E-BP1 compared with that in normal mesothelial cells. An inhibitor of Akt diminished IGF-I-mediated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, whereas inhibiting MAPK signalling had no such effect. IGF-I stimulation resulted in the activation of the cap-mediated translation complex as indicated by an increased eIF4G/eIF4E ratio in cap-affinity assays. Akt inhibition reversed the eIF4G/eIF4E ratio. Mesothelioma cells transfected with an activated 4E-BP1 protein (4E-BP1^A37/A46) were resistant to IGF-I-mediated growth, motility, and colony formation. In a murine xenograft model, mesothelioma cells expressing the dominant active 4E-BP1^A37/A46 repressor protein showed abrogated tumourigenicity compared with control tumours.

Conclusion:

IGF-I signalling in mesothelioma cells drives cell proliferation, motility, and tumourigenesis through its ability to activate cap-mediated protein translation complex through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling.     

AMD3100-mediated production of interleukin-1 from mesenchymal stem cells is key to chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells

Breast cancer cells (BCCs) can remain quiescent for a long period, before detection and during remission. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert both protective and growth support of BCCs. Intercellular interactions between MSCs and BCCs partly occur through membrane-bound CXCL12 (SDF-1α) and its receptor, CXCR4. MSCs can protect BCCs by suppressing immune cytotoxicity and concomitant induction of regulatory T-cells. This study investigated how the cellular interactions between MSCs and BCCs can be targeted to sensitize the BCCs to chemotherapy. Knockdown of CXCR4 and CXCL12 indicated that these molecules are involved in reduced proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and T47D BCCs. We therefore treated co-cultures of MSCs and BCCs with the CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, and showed that this treatment led to cycling of BCCs with increased sensitivity to carboplatin, although the effectiveness of carboplatin required the presence of AMD3100. Cytokine array analyses and transwell cultures indicated that AMD3100 caused an increase in BCC proliferation by inducing the production of IL-1α and IL-1β in MSCs after uncoupling from BCCs. The findings with cell lines were validated with primary BCCs from the blood of patients, and in nude BALB/ c mice. MDA-MB-231 was injected in the dorsal flank of mice. The tumors were treated with IL-1 receptor antagonist, AMD3100 and/ or carboplatin. The results verified a critical role for IL-1 in transitioning MSCs from protective to supportive with respect to BCC growth. The clinical significance of these studies was further highlighted in preliminary studies that detected circulating MSCs in obese, but not non-obese patients. Since obese breast cancer patients show poor outcome, these findings underscore that importance of MSCs in consideration for future development of efficient therapy.     

萝卜硫素对小鼠乳腺癌4T1细胞上皮-间质转化、增殖和迁移的影响研究

背景与目的:组蛋白去乙酰化酶5(histone deacetylase 5,HDAC5)在乳腺癌组织中异常高表达,其与赖氨酸特异性去甲基化酶1(lysine specific demethylase,LSD1)协同促进乳腺癌细胞增殖和迁移.通过萝卜硫素(sulforaphane,SFN)下调HDAC5表达,观察其对小鼠...     

5-FU对小鼠乳腺癌4T1细胞株中肿瘤干细胞样细胞的富集作用

目的:探讨以氟尿嘧啶(5-fluorouracil,5-FU)处理并通过荷瘤小鼠模型体内传代的方法富集乳腺癌干细胞样细胞的可行性,为靶向肿瘤干细胞治疗奠定基础.方法:以乳腺癌细胞株4T1皮下接种小鼠制备荷瘤模型,以一定剂量5-FU腹腔注射4周;处死小鼠后取肿瘤组织制成细胞悬液,并接种小鼠制备下一代小鼠荷瘤模型,5-FU处理及再次传代方法同上,共传4代.对照组小鼠给予生理盐水注射,其余处理同模型组.流式细胞术检测各代肿瘤组织中CD44+ CD24-/low细胞比例,Hoechast 33342染色法检测侧群(side population,SP)细胞的比例,免疫组化法检测CD55和ALDH1蛋白的表达,倒置显微镜观察乳腺癌细胞微球体的形成,小鼠致瘤实验检测不同肿瘤细胞的致瘤能力.结果:各代对照组小鼠模型肿瘤组织中CD44+CD24-/low细胞比例为(11.5±0.9)％,SP细胞比例为(9.7±1.3)％,ALDH1表达阴性,CD55强阳性表达细胞数为(0.6±0.3)％,乳腺癌细胞微球体比例为(0.5±0.2)％;5-FU处理组4代小鼠模型肿瘤组织中CD44+ CD24-/low细胞比例分别为(49.8±1.2)％、(56.8％±1.7)％、(66.4±1.5)％、(69.0±1.6)％,SP细胞比例分别为(25.0±1.2)％、(42.6±2.8)％、(58.4±2.1)％、(61.3±2.6)％,ALDH1阳性表达细胞比例为(3.8±0.7)％、(14.1±2.4)％、(25.2±3.1)％、(27.5±2.7)％,CD55强阳性细胞比例为(7.8±1.6)％、(10.1±2.0)％、(15.6±1.4)％、(17.3±1.9)％,乳腺癌细胞微球体形成比例为(5.9±0.4)％;两组各相应指标之间差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).5-FU作用后富集了肿瘤干细胞的第3代肿瘤细胞的致瘤作用显著强于对照组细胞(P＜0.05).结论:5-FU作用并通过荷瘤小鼠体内传代能够富集小鼠乳腺癌4T1细胞株中的肿瘤干细胞样细胞.     

MicroRNAs在乳腺癌干细胞中的作用研究进展

乳腺癌干细胞（breast cancer stem cells,BCSCs）是导致乳腺癌发生、转移、耐药、复发等的重要原因。MicroRNAs（miRNAs）是近年来发现的一种非编码小分子RNA,可通过与靶标基因的3 '-非翻译区（3'-UTR）的完全或不完全配对,抑制靶标基因的翻译或降解靶标基因,从而发挥多种生物学功能。miRNAs在BCSCs中的异常表达可调控BCSCs的自我更新、抗凋亡、上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT）等生物学行为,从而促进乳腺癌的复发、转移。以miRNAs为研究靶点,为乳腺癌的诊断、预后及治疗提供了全新的思路。本文就近年来该方面的研究进展简要综述。     

Dietary compound isoliquiritigenin prevents mammary carcinogenesis by inhibiting breast cancer stem cells through WIF1 demethylation

Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered as the root of mammary tumorigenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that ISL efficiently limited the activities of breast CSCs. However, the cancer prevention activities of ISL and its precise molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report a novel function of ISL as a natural demethylation agent targeting WIF1 to prevent breast cancer. ISL administration suppressed in vivo breast cancer initiation and progression, accompanied by reduced CSC-like populations. A global gene expression profile assay further identified WIF1 as the main response gene of ISL treatment, accompanied by the simultaneous downregulation of β-catenin signaling and G0/G1 phase arrest in breast CSCs. In addition, WIF1 inhibition significantly relieved the CSC-limiting effects of ISL and methylation analysis further revealed that ISL enhanced WIF1 gene expression via promoting the demethylation of its promoter, which was closely correlated with the inhibition of DNMT1 methyltransferase. Molecular docking analysis finally revealed that ISL could stably dock into the catalytic domain of DNMT1. Taken together, our findings not only provide preclinical evidence to demonstrate the use of ISL as a dietary supplement to inhibit mammary carcinogenesis but also shed novel light on WIF1 as an epigenetic target for breast cancer prevention.     

The GEF-H1/PKD3 signaling pathway promotes the maintenance of triple-negative breast cancer stem cells

Protein kinase D3 (PKD3) is upregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and associated with cell proliferation and metastasis development but its precise pro-oncogenic function is unknown. Here we show that PKD3 is required for the maintenance of the TNBC stem cell population. The depletion of PKD3 in MDA-MB-231 cells reduced the cancer stem cell frequency in vitro and tumor initiation potential in vivo. We further provide evidence that the RhoGEF GEF-H1 is upstream of PKD3 activation in TNBC stem cells. Most importantly, pharmacological PKD inhibition in combination with paclitaxel synergistically decreased oncosphere and colony formation efficiency in vitro and tumor recurrence in vivo. Based on our results we propose that targeting the GEF-H1/PKD3 signaling pathway in combination with chemotherapy might provide an effective therapeutic option for TNBC.     

原癌基因eIF4E与bFGF在乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的 探讨eIF4E与bFGF在人类乳腺癌组织中的表达、相关性及其春临床意义.方法 采用免疫组化方法对75例乳腺和12例乳腺良性病变中eIF4E与bFGF基因表达的水平进行研究.结果 eIF4E与bFGF在乳腺癌组织中表达的阳性率分别为89.3%和58.7%.乳腺癌中eIF4E与bFGF阳性率明显高于生存期≥5年组(P＜0.05),与生存期成负相关.bFGF在有腋淋巴结转移组阳性表达率明显高于无腋淋巴结转移组(P＜0.01),而eIF4E的表达与有无腋淋巴结转移无关(P＞0.05).两者均与患者年龄、肿块大小、病理类型、临床分期、ER、PR、CerbB-2表达状态无关(P＞0.05).eIF4E与bFGF表达有相关性(P＜0.01),两者呈显著正相关(r=0.473).结论 eIF4E与bFGF在乳腺癌的发生发展及预后中起着重要作用,联合检测eIF4E与bFGF的表达可以成为临床上判断乳腺癌预后的参考指标.